Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a botanical garden in Winnebago County, Illinois. The nearest town is Rockford, about 3.3 km (2.1 mi) away (Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden lies SSW of town).
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden (155 acres (63 ha)) is a nonprofit arboretum and botanical garden located at 2715 South Main Street, Rockford, Illinois. The arboretum was established in 1910 as Rockford Nursery by landscape architect William Lincoln Taylor, who planted many of the arboretum's trees. The Klehm family purchased the nursery in 1968 and maintained it until 1985, when they donated the property to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District as an arboretum. In the early 1990s, the site was inventoried, a master plan developed, and a capital campaign undertaken. Garden plantings began in 1994. The arboretum includes a pre-settlement Bur Oak grove (5 ha / 12 acres) whose largest trees are estimated to be over 300 years old. It also includes over 50 species and cultivars of Conifers, representing nine groups from North America, Europe, and Asia, such as Firs, Junipers,...From the Wikipedia article “Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:01 AM | 90° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:21 AM | 57° ENE | 8:37 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:44 AM | 89° E | 6:56 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 122° ESE | 4:28 PM | 239° WSW | 24° | 9h 05m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:52 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:06 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:21 PM | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:25 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:33 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:29 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:41 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:31 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:47 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:07 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:04 AM | 5:36 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:43 PM | 14h 35m |
| June | 4:46 AM | 5:20 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:10 PM | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:00 AM | 5:34 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:06 PM | 14h 58m |
| August | 5:34 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:29 PM | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:14 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:36 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:41 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:30 AM | 3:54 PM | 4:36 PM | 5:06 PM | 9h 48m |
| December | 6:47 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:04 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:58 PM | 9h 07m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:36 AM – 5:26 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:29 AM – 4:29 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 12:38 AM – 3:28 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:48 PM – 2:58 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:38 PM – 1:38 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:46 PM – 11:36 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:43 PM – 9:33 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.55 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 56 | 66 | 78 | 83 | 92 | 98 | 105 | 100 | 94 | 86 | 73 | 66 |
| Low °F | -41 | -20 | -16 | 13 | 27 | 39 | 45 | 44 | 33 | 18 | 2 | -24 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden?
What time is golden hour at Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden?
Where does the sun rise and set at Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden?
How far is Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden from Rockford?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.